Question

"Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is..."

How would you finish those directions so a group of students would produce a graph similar to this one?

Answer 1

I don't have the picture you mean — could you upload or describe the graph (how many points, where they sit, open or closed circles, labeled ticks)? With that I can give an exact set of directions.

Meanwhile, here are several clear ways to finish the prompt that will produce typical number-line graphs. Pick the set that matches the graph you want, or mix-and-match items:

Short, specific prompts that produce single points
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is greater than −3 but less than −1."
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is exactly 0."
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is less than or equal to 2."
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is greater than 4."

Prompts that produce open/closed-circle placements
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is strictly greater than −2." (use an open circle at −2)
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is at least 1." (use a closed circle at 1)

Prompts that produce numbers in intervals or categories
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number between 1 and 3 (not including the endpoints)."
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a negative fraction between −1 and 0."
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating an integer."
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating an odd integer."

Prompts using relationships or operations
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating the reciprocal of one of the integers from −4 to 4 (except 0)."
- "Drag each point to a place on the number line indicating a number that is twice an integer."

Tips for students/teachers
- If you want inclusive endpoints, say "at least" or "at most" and indicate closed circles. If you want exclusive endpoints, say "strictly greater than," "strictly less than," or "between ... not including the endpoints," and indicate open circles.
- If the activity requires particular ticks (e.g., halves or quarters), include that: "between 0 and 1, to the nearest quarter."
- If multiple points should match different descriptions, number the points and give one instruction per numbered point.

If you upload the graph or describe the points (how many, approximate positions, open/closed), I’ll write a short set of directions that will produce that exact graph.